CANBERRA, Jan. 13 (Xinhua) -- Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Tuesday declared that a national day of mourning will be held on Jan. 22 for the victims of the terror attack at Sydney's Bondi Beach.
Flags will be flown at half mast in all government buildings around Australia on Jan. 22 to honor the victims of the attack that targeted an event celebrating the Jewish festival of Hanukkah at the iconic Bondi Beach on Dec. 14., Albanese said at a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra.
This will have a theme of "light will win," a gathering of unity and remembrance, Albanese said.
The prime minister on Monday announced that the federal parliament will be recalled from its summer break two weeks early on Jan. 19 to pass legislation for stronger hate speech and gun ownership laws in response to the attack.
Fifteen people were fatally shot in the attack by alleged gunmen Naveed Akram and his father, Sajid, who was shot dead by police.
Authorities have said that the attack was inspired by Islamic State ideology and have charged Naveed Akram with 15 counts of murder and one count of committing a terrorist act. ■